Cardinals coach Bruce Arians says he does "not see the same guy" when watching Michael Crabtree on 2013 game tape.

Crabtree, of course, is coming off Achilles' surgery. Arians did concede Crabtree is "getting really close" after a five-catch, 102-yard Monday night game against Atlanta. "You can tell he doesn't look as comfortable as he did when he was healthy," added Patrick Peterson. "Obviously, that's going to come with time. But he can still catch the ball and still run good routes."

Michael Crabtree caught five passes for 102 yards in the 49ers' Week 16 win over the Falcons.

Crabtree and Anquan Boldin tied for the team lead with seven targets apiece. King Crab did the bulk of his damage in the third quarter, catching four passes for 99 yards. He looked as healthy as he has since returning from his torn Achilles' four weeks ago. Crabtree's biggest gain was a 47-yard catch-and-run where he beat over-matched slot CB Robert McClain. The play set up an eventual ten-yard touchdown for Boldin. If Crabtree continues to get even healthier, the 49ers are going to be a dangerous playoff team. They'll wrap up the regular season next week in Arizona.

Michael Crabtree (ankle, wrist) is listed as probable for Week 16.

Crabtree was a full participant in practice all week and hasn't missed any games since returning from his Achilles' injury. He's a low-end WR2 for Monday night's matchup with the Falcons.

Michael Crabtree caught five balls for 45 yards and a touchdown in the 49ers' Week 15 win over the Bucs.

Crabtree's first score of the 2013 season came from four yards out in the first quarter, giving San Francisco a lead it would not relinquish. This was largely a trial week for Crabtree owners, for fear of him facing off with Darrelle Revis. He's going to be trending in WR2 direction in Week 16 against Atlanta.

Michael Crabtree (ankle) is listed as probable for Week 15 versus Tampa Bay.

Crabtree is in no danger of missing Sunday's game with the minor issue, but we do expect Darrelle Revis to shadow him for much of the afternoon. Crabtree is a mid-range WR4 this week. Anquan Boldin will have it easier.

Michael Crabtree (ankle) remained limited in Thursday's practice.

The 49ers insist the issue isn't related to Crabtree's Achilles' injury. For now, Crabtree isn't believed to be in any danger of missing Sunday's game, where he'll be a mid-range WR4 against Darrelle Revis and the Bucs.

Michael Crabtree (ankle) was limited in Wednesday's practice.

Crabtree played on 61-of-69 snaps last week against the Seahawks. He'll remain an every-down receiver for the remainder of the season. Crabtree has a tough Week 15 matchup with Darrelle Revis. He's merely a WR3/4.

Michael Crabtree played on 61-of-69 snaps in Sunday's win over the Seahawks.

Michael Crabtree caught four passes for 40 yards in San Francisco's Week 14 win over the Seahawks.

Crabtree looked quicker in and out of his breaks than he did in his Week 13 return, but still had trouble getting open against Seattle's fiercely physical secondary. The Seahawks were not shy about roughing Crabtree up on his eight targets. Crabtree drew two defensive-holding penalties. He was the target on Colin Kaepernick's interception, drawing smothering coverage from CB Byron Maxwell. Things won't get a whole lot easier in Week 15 where Crabtree will have to contend with Darrelle Revis. He'll be a WR4 for the second week of the fantasy playoffs.

Michael Crabtree played on 42-of-67 snaps (62.6 percent) in Sunday's win over the Rams.

In his first game since a May Achilles' tendon tear, Crabtree played far ahead of Mario Manningham (16 snaps). He finished with two catches on four targets, lumbering up the sideline for 60 yards on one of them. Crabtree's snaps figure to gradually rise going forward, putting him on the WR3 radar for the Week 14 showdown with the Seahawks. The real payoff for owners should come in Week 16 when the Niners host the Falcons.

Michael Crabtree caught two passes for 68 yards in his 2013 season debut against the Rams in Week 13.

Crabtree started and saw four targets. He may not have even played 50 percent of the snaps. Anquan Boldin and Vernon Davis remained Colin Kaepernick's go-to guys. Crabtree did pick up 60 yards on a catch-and-run in the second half, though he looked a bit slow as he tore down the sideline. He may have housed it had he been 100 percent healthy. Crabtree will be on the WR3 radar next week against the Seahawks. His snaps should steadily rise over the final month.

Michael Crabtree (Achilles') is active and is expected to start in his season debut against the Rams on Sunday.

Crabtree's Achilles' is 100 percent healthy after he tore it in May, but he's not yet in tip-top football shape. Crabtree is expected to play 60-65 percent of the snaps, making him a borderline WR3/4 for Week 13. Inactive for the 49ers are WR Quinton Patton, WR Jon Baldwin, CB Tarell Brown, OG Mike Iupati, TE Garrett Celek, DT Quinton Dial, and DL Tank Carradine.

FOX's Jay Glazer suggested Michael Crabtree (heel) will play on 60-65 percent of the snaps in Sunday's game against the Rams.

Crabtree's surgically-repaired Achilles' tendon is 100 percent healthy, but he's not quite in football shape and the Niners don't to put too much on his plate. He'll likely rotate with Mario Manningham in two-wide sets Sunday and gradually ramp up from there. Our Patrick Daugherty has ranked Crabtree as fantasy's No. 43 wideout play this week.

49ers coach Jim Harbaugh confirmed Friday Michael Crabtree will make his season debut Sunday against St. Louis.

Crabtree is expected to be on a strict snap count, not just because of the Achilles' injury but because he's not yet in football shape. It's hard to imagine Crabtree playing more than 20 snaps against the Rams. There is an outside chance that Crabtree could be a full-time receiver by Week 15 or so. Fantasy owners should be hoping he's a contributor by Week 16 against the Falcons.

Michael Crabtree (Achilles') was a full participant in Wednesday's practice.

49ers activated WR Michael Crabtree (Achilles') from the reserve/PUP list.

Crabtree is fully expected to make his 2013 debut on Sunday against the Rams. Although owners who stashed Crabtree are likely champing at the bit to start him, he's best left benched for at least Week 13. Crabtree is returning from an explosion-sapping injury, and will almost certainly be on a snap count against the Rams. If you can't wait-and-see, Crabtree will most likely produce as a WR4/5 as he gets his feet wet.

ESPN's Adam Schefter confirms Michael Crabtree (Achilles') is expected to make his 2013 debut in Sunday's game against the Rams.

Speaking after Monday night's Week 12 win over the Redskins, coach Jim Harbaugh said he "anticipates" Michael Crabtree (Achilles') playing next Sunday against the Rams.

Crabtree will be activated from the reserve/PUP list at some point on Tuesday. He tore his Achilles' on May 21 and has been practicing off an on the past couple weeks. This news is encouraging and all, but we can't expect Crabtree to just hop right in and be the guy he was last season. The 49ers will likely ease him in the rest of the regular season and hope for serious contributions in the playoffs. That's even a stretch. Crabtree may not be the same until 2014. He's worth a fantasy roster spot, but expectations need to be tempered.

The 49ers did not activate Michael Crabtree (Achilles') from the PUP list by Monday's 1PM PT deadline, meaning he will not play on Monday Night Football against the Redskins.

Coach Jim Harbaugh didn't rule out Crabtree all last week, but this was expected. He was never set to play. ESPN's Adam Schefter reported Monday that Crabtree will almost certainly make his 2013 debut in Week 13. He'll be activated from the PUP list on Tuesday. Crabtree has been sidelined since May 21, when he tore his Achilles' tendon on a pass route in the 49ers' offseason program.

ESPN's Adam Schefter stated confidently on NFL Insiders Monday that Michael Crabtree (PUP, Achilles') will return no later than Week 13.

"If he doesn't play tonight," said Schefter, referring to Monday night's 49ers-Redskins game, "he will play (next) Sunday." Crabtree will likely be eased in coming off his ruptured Achilles', but there is an outside chance he could be a WR3 asset for receiver-needy owners late in the fantasy playoffs. He's certainly worth a roster spot over low-ceiling bench fodder like Brian Hartline, Brandon LaFell, Kris Durham, and Nate Washington.